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Anyone arriving from Japan and Singapore who displays coronavirus symptoms will be quarantined at a hospital in Thailand. Photo: Xinhua

Coronavirus: Thailand bars Westerdam passengers; adds visitors from Singapore and Japan to screening checks

  • The moves came as the country confirmed its 35th case, of a Chinese woman related to a family of nine that was previously diagnosed
  • Thailand was one of the five countries which turned away the Westerdam cruise ship over coronavirus fears. A US passenger has since tested positive
Thailand on Monday said it would bar non-resident passengers from the Cambodia-docked MS Westerdam from entering the country, days after Malaysia reported a passenger from the cruise ship tested positive for the coronavirus.
An 83-year-old American woman, who was among 145 Westerdam passengers on the first of four flights chartered by the ship’s operator, was determined to have shown symptoms during airport checks in Kuala Lumpur, prompting Malaysia to cancel other flights and ban the entry of further passengers.

There were 21 Thai nationals on board the Westerdam, and Thai health authorities said all of them would be quarantined for 14 days when they entered Thailand.

The Southeast Asian country was among five nations which denied the Westerdam from docking last week amid fears of the coronavirus.

No more Westerdam cruise passengers allowed into Malaysia amid epidemic

Thailand’s move to bar passengers from the luxury cruise liner came as the country on Monday recorded a new case of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 35.

The latest case was a 60-year-old Chinese woman who was related to a family of nine that was previously diagnosed.

“This is the from an old case of a Chinese family of nine, all of them have now been infected,” said Sukhum Kanchanapimai, the Thai health ministry’s permanent secretary.

Among those who have been diagnosed with the Covid-19 disease, 15 have recovered and returned home, while 20 are still being treated in hospital.

Tourists in Thailand have their temperatures taken at Phuket Island on February 13, 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE

Meanwhile, Thai health authorities on Monday also said screenings would be expanded to include travellers arriving from Singapore and Japan, in addition to those from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Japan and Singapore have two of the highest numbers of reported cases outside China.

Travellers from Japan and Singapore that develop a fever or respiratory symptoms within 14 days of entering the country will be treated like travellers from China
Sukhum Kanchanapimai, Thai health official

Anyone arriving from those two countries who displays coronavirus symptoms will be quarantined at a government hospital.

“Travellers from Japan and Singapore that develop a fever or respiratory symptoms within 14 days of entering the country will be treated like travellers from China,” Sukhum said.

More than 1,700 people in China have died from the Covid-19 disease, along with a handful in other countries and territories, but Thailand has not recorded any fatalities so far.

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